Clay learning: Где Можно Обучиться Гончарному Делу с Нуля?
An art teacher from Texas wrote this question:
How do you get students (especially younger ones) to grasp the concept of blending the clay in order to attach it well? I’ve told them a zillion times, I’ve modeled it, I’ve shown examples of ones that have fallen apart, etc. I’ve been trying to catch them before they put them on the drying tray, but it’s simply impossible to catch every single project. Is there some trick I’m missing here, or is it really a learn by experience kind of thing?
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With clay, touching is essential. Clay gives kinesthetic pleasure. It is so easy to forget oneself in the trance of creative work. It is multi-sensory and more tactile than nearly any other material.
I have been a clay teacher since 1960 and have coached every age from 3 to older than me and experimented with many approaches.
I have concluded that clay should be in every student’s hands before I start any kind of instruction. This way I can see them doing their own experiments rather than watch me show them my way. For very young children, I let them do as they wish without any instruction. They approach everything with a good instinct to experiment to learn about it.
TELL me and I forget. SHOW me and I am entertained. Have me DO IT and I remember.
For school children, since many have lost much of their freedom and imagination, I give them experiments to do before they make projects to be fired. Generally, school and other adults have taught them to expect to be told what to do, how to think, and what to learn. It can take some effort to restore instinctive learning joy for many of these children.
I find that even potter’s wheel learning is better when I teach in front of a circle of wheels where every student is doing it and I can see them all doing it as we work our way through the more challenging parts until everybody has the kinesthetic FEEL of what works as well as the feel of the things that do not work. I teach the wheel to any age from kindergarten on, but I would not recommend it for elementary school unless you have a skilled potter who understands learning.
Clay sculpture is great for toddlers that can be supervised to keep it out of their mouths. Of course clay can be sterilized with heat, so tasting it would not be a problem. Some cultures use it in cooking. Many of our pills use sterile clay to bind them.
I LEARN to DO a new skill by DOING it.
A Basic Experiment for handbuilding or sculpture
1. Everybody starts by making four pieces of clay. Sometimes these are slabs, sometimes coils, or sometimes lumps for sculptures. 2. They put two pieces together with no instructions, but I tell them use their fingers to smooth over the seam until it does not show. 3. They put another two pieces together, but I have everybody work the clay together with enough rigor, digging across, etc. until the two pieces are mixed at the junction. This part I demonstrate several possible actions that I know will mix clay from the two parts together at the joint. The methods depend on how hard the clay is, but the clay must be between soft and soft-leatherhard. Dry clay or hard-leatherhard is too difficult to be joined. 4. Then they are encourage to smooth it over until it looks the same as their first example. 5. Next they are asked to pull on the parts until they come apart and examine the work try to decide which of the pieces ended up being the strongest. 6. Ask which would be the best way to make a puzzle that could be made from any individual parts to be assembled like Legos? 7. Ask which would be best for making a piece of pottery or sculpture that would be less apt to come apart during the drying and firing processes? 8. While they are working on pottery or sculpture I glance around. A few will forget when they get caught up in flow of creativity. If somebody forgets to make good joints I might ask them if they are working on a puzzle? If they are making a puzzle, fine. They can add Velcro to the joints after it is fired. Sometimes when I notice that somebody is not remembering I might ask if they remember what we learned from our experiment?
Other Clay Experiments
Try having each student write down a prediction or speculation of what they think might happen. At the end, have them write down and draw what actually happened. Clarify the cause of what is discovered.
Consider having experiments done by small teams so students can help each other and so they can compete with other teams for discoveries.
2. Another experiment has them attach a slab that is very thin (about an eighth inch thick) to a slab that is about a half inch thick and see what happens as this experiment dries.
4. Another experiment has solid sculptures (at least 2 inches thick) in the bisque fired containers, but some of the pieces have had holes pushed in from the bottom with a piece of coat hanger wire at half inch intervals before the clay dried. See which ones explode in the firing.
I welcome your questions and ideas about teaching art. I cannot promise to answer every question, but I am interested in hearing from you. contact
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All rights reserved. Images, text, and design Please mention the URL or the title of this page in your correspondence with the author. You do not need permission to make a link to this page from your page. ———————————————— More links with similar help for art teachers. CONTACT HOME for teachng art links by same author Learning to Learn (process vs product) © 2008 Biographical information about Marvin Bartel How to teach students to Generate their own IDEAS for artwork About the artwork of six year old children Teaching Creativity Creativity Killers Make Drawing Easier and Harder (shows blinders) Preliminary Practice instead of the Teacher Demo The Conversation Game to Get Ideas Planning Art Lessons Art Lessons That Show Exemplars After the Media Work Goshen College Art Department Marvin Bartel HOME Goshen College
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These were not yet fired at the time of An Alternative Clay Sculpture Method Experimenting More Promotes More Self-Learning Sometimes I add sand to my clay. The white silica sand from the lumber yard is cheap and works okay for me. 5 to 20 percent sand can add character. More sand allows thicker pieces to be fired. Common sand sometimes works, but to know for sure, experiment. Some sand has ingredients that cause breakage after firing. This is tested by firing and then spraying a little water on the pieces to see if they crack or get pop-outs. Clay Prospecting & Preparation as Learning
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Testimonials
Danielle Millman
President of Otter Learning
In commitment to our partnership with families and, given how much we value supporting all of the needs of children we educate, our partnership with Clay is perfectly timed. It will also be a tremendous asset in supporting our teachers and leaders at our schools. I couldn’t be more excited!
Danielle Millman
In commitment to our partnership with families and, given how much we value supporting all of the needs of children we educate, our partnership with Clay is perfectly timed. It will also be a tremendous asset in supporting our teachers and leaders at our schools. I couldn’t be more excited!
Kate M. Waterfield
Founder & CEO of The Malvern School
At The Malvern School, we are committed to developing the whole child during their crucial early childhood years– from infancy to pre-kindergarten and beyond. Our Program focuses on the physical, cognitive and emotional growth of the child and that is why partnering with Clay is perfect for our school communities. We are excited to offer our parents resources outside of the classroom that will be customized to their child’s own developmental needs and provide all caregivers with the tools to navigate the early childhood years.
Brittany Haines
CEO of Growing Room Development Centers
Through our partnership with Clay we can support our Growing Room families and enhance our school and family relationship with valuable resources that will help to identify and provide early intervention for behavioral health needs.
Danielle Millman
“I started painting as a hobby when I was little. I didn’t know I had any talent. I believe talent is just a pursued interest. I believe talent is just a pursued interest.”
Sasha Vinson
COO at Kids ‘R’ Kids Corporate
In our current climate we have seen more children struggling with mental health and anxiety than before.This is why we are so excited to be partnering with Clay. Early intervention in the preschool setting is key to helping families and teachers form a support system to help children build confidence, curb challenging behaviors, and develop a lifelong love of learning. By partnering with Clay, we believe we have found a piece of our puzzle that will impact children’s social and emotional health and help us to better embrace the whole child.
Kate Sherrard
Creative Director at O2B Kids
Our partnership with Clay is particularly advantageous for our parents and teachers. However, the winners in this efficient yet thorough process are the childre We feel that Clay will give each student and family a leg up on their academic and developmental success. You have nothing to lose….and everything to gain. Use Clay!
Sarah Rotenstreich
Founder of Preschool of the Arts
Educating the next generation is an awesome responsibility. When determining our academic goals and values, we must consider the whole child. Heart, Mind, Body & Soul. During the formative years of early childhood education, we have the opportunity to set the norm for the way our children will view and engage with the world and we must ensure that we are offering joyful, respectful and emotionally healthy interactions. Partnering with CLAY, and the individualized resources they offer to the families in our community, guides our students towards positive habits and a robust tool box for life.
Where Can I Learn Pottery From Scratch?
Working with clay, like meditation, relieves fatigue, improves mood and frees the mind from the flow of obsessive thoughts. Pottery teaches patience – it is both relaxation and concentration. And it is not surprising that every second creative person is interested in where to learn pottery. Let’s talk about this in our article.
What is the profession of potters?
This profession originated thousands of years ago. Perhaps in the 21st century, general industrialization has led to the complete automation of the pottery production process, but the need for potters has not disappeared. Craftsmen make dishes, jewelry, household items. Over time, devices were added for productive work with the material. Clay and ceramic products are in demand and remain a traditional art form, but more modern materials are used for the manufacture of products.
Where are potters trained?
If you want to learn a new profession: to acquire practical skills in handling a potter’s wheel, to study the nuances of hand carving, to master the technique of decorating and firing, then you definitely need to take a potter’s course.
Typically, these courses include training from start to finish. Professional educators will teach you how to make finished pottery from scratch. The course programs are specially selected for those who want to acquire the necessary knowledge and are interested in intensive practice.
Some schools, or even universities, offer a full pottery course, followed by a final exam. Those who pass the exam receive a certificate or even a diploma, but it all depends on where you studied.
- Pottery workshops . Taking a potter’s course in such schools is very comfortable, because the groups consist of five to ten people. There are many programs here: from basic master classes where you can see the result in the lesson to full courses that will help you master the material; Courses where you can create anything that comes to your mind and themed courses where the whole group creates products based on a template. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate.
- Online projects . Theoretical material, detailed video tutorials, support from an experienced teacher – you will get all the necessary skills and knowledge remotely! In a few months, you will learn how to make pottery, thanks to online lessons. Choosing this way of learning, you will need to buy materials and tools, an oven, a potter’s wheel (especially if you really want to work with ceramics).
- Universities . Yes, as it turned out, you can also get knowledge on the subject of pottery at universities. Education in universities lasts more than one year, and upon completion you will receive a state-recognized diploma of higher education.
As an example:
Abramtsevo College of Art and Industry named after V.M. Vasnetsov
Website: ahpkv.ru
Address: Moscow region, Khotkovo Khudozhestvenny proezd, 1British Higher School of Design
Website: britishdesign.ru
Address: Moscow, st. Nizhnyaya Syromyatnicheskaya, 10, building 3, entrance 3AGzhel State University
Website: art-gzhel.ru
Address: Moscow region, Ramensky district, Elektroizolyator settlement, 67Moscow State Academy of Art and Industry named after S.G. Stroganova
Site: mghpu.ru
Address: Moscow, Volokolamskoe shosse, 9, building 1St. Petersburg State Art and Industry Academy. A.L. Stieglitz
Website: ghpa.ru
Address: St. Petersburg, Solyanoy per., 13-15State Vocational Educational Institution of the Tula Region “Tula Regional College of Culture and Art” .
Website: toccii.ru
Address: Tula, Lenina avenue, 36Karachay-Cherkess State University named after U.D. ALIYEV” .
Website: kchgu.ru
Address: KChR, Karachaevsk, Lenina str., 29
It is important to understand the goal. Do you want to get a result or learn about the features of pottery? One master class may not be enough. With hand molding, there is more guarantee that you will receive the product. And, of course, the help of the master who guides you is important.
Watching videos on the Internet can create unreasonable expectations. This may affect the additional motivation of a person who came to the master class with excessive requirements. The principle of “from simple to complex” should work.
Pottery has its own prospects – a craft that often turns into a family business. However, this profession requires your efforts and desire to realize your dream and develop it in the future.
Good luck!
Author of article
Svetlana Sukhinina
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Goods for potters and ceramists 9 0003
Psychotherapeutic resources and possibilities of clay therapy
Introduction
Clay therapy, like other art therapy techniques, is based on working with free self-expression and is not aimed at a result of artistic value. Clay therapy allows you to remove muscle clamps, reduce anxiety, throw out emotions, and overcome fear.
Clay Field® is a unique psychotherapeutic method developed 40 years ago by the German art therapist Heinz Deuser. This method is recognized in Europe and is practiced by many specialists. This is a soft and deep method of working with one’s personality, it is aimed at working with behavioral, neurotic and emotional disorders, helps with loss, stress, and aggression.
The program is addressed to a wide range of practical psychologists, psychotherapists, art therapists, specialists in the education system and the social sphere.
As a result of the training, participants will be able to:
- get acquainted with the psychotherapeutic possibilities of clay therapy;
- master the psychotherapeutic technique “Clay Field”;
- use it in individual and group work with clients of different ages.
Programmed
- Clay as a psychotherapeutic and correctional material (advantages and limitations), combination with other art therapy techniques.
- Practical acquaintance with clay, mastering the techniques of clay therapy.
- Clay field method. Features of the method and technology of application.
- Recommendations for organizing group and individual lessons with children and adolescents. Lesson examples.
- Recommendations for the use of clay in group and individual psychotherapeutic work with adults.
- Connection of clay therapy with body-oriented practices.
- Kinetic sand. Practice of use in psychotherapeutic work.
Forms of work
theoretical blocks, photo viewing, art therapy exercises, art therapy workshop.
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Program scope 24 academic hours
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Certificate of advanced training.
Materials
Article by the participant of the seminar, Yu. A. Smirnova “Clay therapy for everyone, or the Adventures of the Tadpole”
We invite you to get acquainted with the educational program of the seminar
Reviews
You can leave feedback about the program in your personal account, in the Attended events section.